Movie spotlight
Human Target
At midnight, Yamabe, a killer, escapes from prison. Two years before, bribed by a narcotic smuggler, Yamabe killed a real estate broker. As he was being arrested by detective Negoro, the detective's bullet struck Sakuko, Yamabe's girl friend who attempted to protect him, and crippled her. When Yamabe was sent to prison, Negoro cared for her and they fell in love. Sakuko asked him to marry her, but Negoro was reluctant to take the killer's sweetheart from him. Learning of the relationship of his girl friend and the detective, Yamabe had pledged revenge.
Insights
Plot Summary
A wealthy businessman, under threat from an organized crime syndicate, hires a private investigator to act as his decoy. The investigator, who has a knack for assuming different identities, must protect his client by drawing the assassins' fire onto himself. This cat-and-mouse game escalates as the investigator gets closer to uncovering the conspiracy.
Critical Reception
The 1971 TV movie 'Human Target' received a mixed reception. While praised for its action sequences and the performance of Chad Everett, some critics found the plot predictable and the characterizations somewhat thin. It served as a pilot for a potential TV series that ultimately did not get picked up.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its suspenseful premise and action-oriented plot.
Chad Everett's performance as the chameleon-like protagonist was a highlight.
Criticized for a predictable storyline and underdeveloped supporting characters.
Google audience: Audience reception for 'Human Target' is not widely documented, but general sentiment suggests it was an entertaining, albeit not groundbreaking, action thriller for its time.
Fun Fact
The film was a made-for-television movie that served as a pilot for a potential series. It was loosely based on the DC Comics character of the same name, though the TV adaptation significantly altered the character's origins and motivations.
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